Interlocked and welded tank outlet



Oct- 23, 1956 R. s. RHEEM INTERLocKED AND WELDED TANK `OUTLET Filed Feb.29, 1952 R/cHA/Pn s. RHEEM,

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INVENToR. HuEaA/ER, BEE/11.61?,

United States Patent INTERLOCKED AND WELDED TANK OUTLET Richard S.Rheem, San Francisco, Calif., assigner to Rheem Manufacturing Company,Richmond, Calif., a corporation of California Application February 29,1952, Serial No. 274,210 1 claim. (Cl. 28s- 179) This invention relatesto the fabrication of innerlined tanks, more particularly water tanksused in domestic water heaters.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved nipplestructure for an innerlined tank, wherein there is communication betweenthe interior of the tank and the nipple without any danger of contact ofthe outer jacket bythe fluid contained in the tank.

When a tank is installed in place by or on behalf of the consumer, thereis often considerable twisting applied to the tank nipples as thecommunication pipes are screwed thereinto. The average plumber generallyrelies on the bond between the nipple and the tank to prevent the nipplefrom twisting, and he therefore seldom counters the twisting by a pipewrench applied directly to the nipple. The result is that the bondbetween the nipple and the tank is often subjected to such severe torquethat the nipple breaks loose from the tank and must be repaired beforethe installation can be completed. It is a still further object of thisinvention to provide an improved nipple structure in which twisting ofthe nipple within the tank opening is positively precluded, and whichdoes not rely on the bond between the nipple and the tank to resist thetightening torque when connecting pipes are screwed onto the nipple.

In accordance with these objects and with other objects which willbecome apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be describedin conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a longitudinal cross-section of a tank constructed inaccordance with the instant invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section taken near the top of the tank showingthe character of the internal construction.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken at the side of the tank, showingfurther details of construction.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section showing one of the connectingnipples at the top of the tank shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary under side view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, 11 and 12 designate substantially identicalhalves of a relatively ductile liner preferably made of copper. Thesetwo liner sections are each like a bathtub in shape; that is, each has asemi-cylindrical central portion terminated at each end with quarterspherical portions. Each half section 11 and 12 is identica-l inconstruction, and completely around the edges of each section isprovided an inwardly turned flange 13, denoting the flange on thesection 11, and 14 denoting the flange on the section 12.

Closely and completely surrounding the inner liner composed of thesections 11 and 12, and of substantially the same shape, is an outerjacket 16 formed of a cylindrical central portion 17 closed at each endby a pair of hemispherical caps 18 and 19. Each cap is swaged orotherwise outwardly otset as shown at 19' and 34 to provide a lip whichts closely over the contiguous rim of the cylindrical portion 17.

ICC

The principal function of the copper liner is to provide corrosionresistance to the contents of the tank, for example, water; and theprincipal function of the jacket 16, which is preferably made of steel,is to provide mechanical strength and support.

In the upper portion of the tank are provided registering openings inthe liner and in the jacket, which accommodate a nipple 21 giving accessto the interior of the tank. A similar nipple 22 is provided on theother side of the tank, one nipple being used for inlet purposes and theother for outlet purposes. As best seen in Figs. 1 and 4, the nipplesare substantially vertical, whereas the tank wall at the place ofopening therein is not horizontal. Therefore, since the nipples arepreferably cylindrical in cross-section, the registering openings in theliner and jacket are somewhat elliptical in form as shown in Fig. 5. Inthis manner the nipple 21, even though circular, completely fills theopening 23 in the tank. This nipple construction does not requirereliance on the weldment 24 to prevent it from twisting within theopening 23, but such twisting is naturally prevented by the inherentgeometry of the bond. This is because any twisting of the nipple bringsit into engagement with the wall around the non-circular opening, andsuch engagement resists further twisting.

Other nipples 26 and 27 are also provided in the tank, nipple 26 beingin the cylindrical body portion and adapted to receive a thermostatelement, and nipple 27 being at the bottom and adapted to receive adrain cock.

A small opening 29 is formed in the steel jacket for the purpose oftesting with air pressure for any leaks in the jacket and this openingis welded closed after the tests. An opening 31 is made in the bottomhemisphere for eventual reception of the drain nipple 27. The upperhemisphere 18 is also formed with two openings 32 and 33 adapted toreceive eventually the two nipples 21 and 22, respectively. The openingsat 31, 32, and 33 are elliptical in shape as shown generally in Fig. 5,so that when projected onto a horizontal plane they are circular forreasons which will appear hereinafter.

Each of these openings in the tank is provided with a nipple, in amanner which will now be described, by way of example, in connectionwith the opening 23 corresponding to the opening 32 in the steel jacket,and with particular reference to Figs. 4 and 5. By means of a suitableswage or flanging tool, the copper rim extending inwardly from theperiphery of the opening 32 in the steel jacket is forced through theopening 32 in the hemisphere 18 and is then anged outwardly around theoutside of the jacket, as shown at 36 in Fig. 4.

As seen in Fig. 4, the lower end of the nipple 21 is cut on a biascorresponding to the angle of slope of the tank wall at the opening 23.A cylindrical flange portion 37 is formed around the bias rim of thenipple 21, the outside diameter of this flange conforming closely to thediameter of the opening 23 after the edge of the liner 11 has beenpressed therethrough and flanged around as shown at 36. Thus, when thenipple 21 is disposed vertically, as shown in Fig. 4, its anged portion37 extends into the opening 23 and completely fills the opening becauseof the corresponding elliptical geometry between the rim 37 and theopening 23.

After the nipple 21 is in the position shown in Fig. 4, it is weldedcompletely around its periphery by a weldment 24. It is preferred to usea welding material having a good wetting ingredient such as silver, sothat the weld material flows into the crevice between the ange 37 andthe copper liner 11, and also into the crevice between the copper liner11 and the edge of the opening 32 in the hemispherical head 18. Weldmaterial also bonds between the nipple 21 and the steel head 18. Thus,there is formed a good bond of the nipple to the liner, of the liner tothe head, and of the nipple to the head. In this way the steel jacket 16is completely protected from Contact by the contents of the tank, sincethe nipple 21 is bonded directly to the copper liner and there is nopossibility of Contact between jacket and tank contents.

The nipples 22 and 27 are secured in place by a similar process. Thenipple 26 is also secured in place by a similar operation, except thatthe opening may be circular instead of elliptical, the slightcylindrical curvature of the tank at this point being insuicient torequire alteration of the circular section of the opening.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in whatis conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosedherein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claim so as toembrace any and all equivalent Vdinal axis of the opening being directedtoward the axis of the tank, a cy1indrica1 nipple of circularcross-section and having a tank adjacent end, the nipple being securedat its tank adjacent end to said one end wall circumjacent said openingand extending outwardly from said outside surface, the axis of thenipple being substantially parallel to the axis of the tank, acylindrical ange of elliptical cross-section extending from the tankadjacent end of the nipple, said ange extending into the opening andbeing of a size such that the outside surface of the ange mates with theside walls dening the said opening.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS351,66() Shepard Oct. 26, 1886 1,059,598 Daniels et al. Apr. 22, 19131,873,275 Boosey Aug. 23,r 1932 1,875,640 Moore Sept. 6, 1932 2,018,683Meyer Oct. 29, 1935 2,041,450 Adams May 19, 1936 2,100,895 Austin Nov.30, 1937 2,239,509 Uecker Apr. 22, 1941 2,266,610 Martin Dec. 16, 19412,374,763 Martin May 1, 1945 2,453,331 Martin Nov. 9, 1948 2,568,111Bond Sept. 18, i951 2,614,867 Artis Oct. 21, 1952

